Wirral 60

At the last audit committee a long-awaited report to councillors admitted certain charges were unlawful and that 15 vulnerable people were overcharged a total of £116,000.

However, Mr Moreton insisted the figures were much higher, and the committee agreed to meet again after officers investigated this, including comparing Wirral’s charges with other authorities.

The report to Tuesday’s committee said: “Some charges are comparable with Wirral's and the maximum charge of one approximated to Wirral's average for the period 1997/1998 to 2002/2003 which was £78.

“The approximate average for the other authorities is £45.”

The report added: “Some of those (councils) who made comments on Wirral's charging policy were critical of the level and considered it high.”

Mr Morton said: “The amounts the council has said it owes has gone up from nothing to £78,000, to £116,000 to £234,000, and it will still go higher. If I had not persisted they would not have agreed to pay anything, and I’m determined they should pay back everything they owe.”